“You heard me,” Desdemona said. “You remember all the times we had. The day you gifted me my necklace? Making love at the overlook? The way we handled Hugo Boucher? It’s all come back to me. It started the day I met you. When you andyour friend found our camp. From that day on, the memories came flooding back. It’s me, Levi. I still love you.”
My brain short-circuited, sparks spasming in the depths of my mind. The things she was saying, the words—it made no sense. How could she know those things? Unless…
“Stop!” I shouted, shaking my head as if trying to throw off some sort of hypnosis. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not,” she said, and there was a strange combination of kindness and simmering malice in her words. “You know it’s true. Look at me. Think of Naphele. You can see the resemblance in who we are. Perhaps not physically, but in our spirit.”
Thatwastrue. Desdemona reminded me of Naphele’s warrior spirit. Her power and strength. As to that part, yes, Desdemona was correct. Also, there were all these men who followed her. The respect she earned from them was impressive, and something I knew Naphele could have achieved. But my long-lost mate had been kind and good-natured, a person who veered toward diplomacy rather than war unless there was no other option. Could sheeverreincarnate in a woman like this?
“Here is my offer, Levi,” Desdemona said. “Join me, as I asked before, become my mate. This time, it won’t just bemeyou’ll be binding your life to, but Naphele also. Do this and follow me and my men into battle against the alliance of packs. With you at my side, we will be unstoppable. The Red Maw will roll over them, and in a week, you and I will be the alphas of the largest pack within a thousand miles. After that? The sky is the limit. Come, join me,” she said and extended a hand toward me.
Carlton moved forward and cut the rope binding my wrists. As he did so, I glanced behind Desdemona, catching sight of Anders. He and Eugenia were both looking on with eager and anticipatory looks on their faces. Before that, I’dalmostbeen ready to believe what Desdemona was telling me, but why would Anders be looking so happy? If I took Desdemona up on heroffer, he had to know his life would be miserable. HeknewI’d never allow him to remain. Something was off about all this. I didn’t know how Anders could have known enough to feed Desdemona the information about Naphele, but this whole thing stank of a trap. Some sort of long con that they were trying to fold me into.
There was no way Naphele would allow her soul to embody itself in a person as cold and calculating as the woman who stood before me. I rubbed at my wrists, buying time. Did I spit in her face and tell her to go to hell? Die a martyr, but with my reputation and conscience intact? Or, did I play my own con? The choice was easy.
Letting my arms sag to my side, I forced up what I thought was a rather impressive and realistic sob.
“Naphele? You’re really in there?” I said, collapsing forward on my hands and knees.
Desdemona’s face broke into a triumphant smile. “Yes, my love.” She straightened, holding both of her hands out to me now. “Rise, an alpha mate, and once more be at my side.”
Reaching forward, I placed my hands in hers and allowed her to help me to my feet. She pulled me close and pressed her lips to mine. The men of the Red Maw cheered. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to rip my mouth from hers. My wolf gave a revolted and horrified shudder, and that alone told me all I needed to know. This woman was no more the embodiment of Naphele than I was. I managed to keep my emotions under control until the kiss was over. When she lifted my hand and another thunderous roar of approval erupted from the men, I smiled, wide and toothy, wondering what they’d all think when I turned on them.
90
JUNIPER
“I’m glad you’re back, but why didn’t you tell us you were leaving?” Gran said.
I hated how upset and nervous she looked. Grandpa sat by the fire, giving me a similar look of worried exasperation.
“I don’t know,” I said. “It was something that I was compelled to do, if that makes any sense.”
I’d returned thirty minutes ago, to a group of people who seemed to have been overcome by a sense of impending doom. Everyone had been tense and anxious, more so than when I’d left. The overcast sky had given the forest and village a darkness that made it seem much later than the late afternoon that it was. Once I’d informed Linnea and Douglas that I’d returned, I’d gone to the cabin my grandparents were sharing with Beatrice. They, like everyone else in town, had heard I’d ventured back to Idlewild, and were less than happy about it.
On the trip back, instead of being filled with relief at what I’d discovered, I’d instead been filled with anxiety. It was a deep ache in my chest that made my wolf whine with worry. I couldn’t think of why I would feel that way, unless it had something to do with the sight. Something from one of my visions, or from manyof them that may have gone unnoticed during the first time witnessing them. The only person who might have any answers was Grandpa. I needed to speak with him, so I made this my first stop.
“All right,” Grandpa said, standing from his chair, and moving to join us at the table. “You’re back now, and that’s all that matters.” He patted my hand, a gesture of comfort I hadn’t realized I needed. My shoulders relaxed at his touch.
“Grandpa?” I looked at him, hoping he could answer my question. “What do you know about the sight?”
“Oh, I know a bit,” he said. “Heard stories my whole life.” His eyebrows drew together. “Have you had more visions?”
“I have,” I said. “I went back to Idlewild to find out who killed Naphele Cross. And I did.”
My grandparents sat back, their eyes wide with shock. The old murder had become a talking point around town when Levi had returned, and some of them were old enough to have known and heard about it from people who’d lived through it all.
“Who did it, then?” Gran asked, her voice a low whisper.
“Rafe Thornton,” I said. “He’s actually still alive—well, hewasalive. He died right after confessing to me.”
“I’ll be dipped in shit,” Grandpa said, taking his cap off and tossing it on the table. “That sneaky old son of a bitch. I thought he died years ago.”
“I know,” I said. “What I wanted to ask about, is…well, I assumed my visions began because Naphele’s soul needed closure. They didn’t start until I met Levi, and I assumed she must have—I don’t know—sensedmy gift and latched on to me, pushing these visions into my mind to help find her killer. I hoped that once I did, I’d be relieved, but if anything, I’m more anxious than ever. Like I still need todosomething else. Have you ever heard of anything like this?”
“Can’t say I have,” Grandpa said. “Most of the time visions play out like movies in your mind. You watch all the characters go by doing whatever they did. Then it’s over. I never knew anyone who had any residual effects from it. Not that was ever talked about, anyway.”
“Right,” I said, “But how do you see theotherpeople in a vision? Maybe if I could get out of Naphele’s point of view, there might be more to the story. Perhaps Rafe had an accomplice or something. If I could follow Rafe in a vision, then maybe I could figure out what I’m missing?”
